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Make-A-Wish recipient Israel Rodriguez, a 12-year-old Hartford resident who has leukemia, learned during a live stream production of WWE's The Bump, from WWE Superstar Roman Reigns via Skype, that he will be attending WrestleMania. The surprise reveal was made at the digital and production studio's of the WWE in Stamford, Conn. on Feb. 19, 2020. The show is hosted by WWE personality Kayla Braxton.
lessPhoto: Matthew Brown / Hearst Connecticut MediaMake-A-Wish recipient Israel Rodriguez, a 12-year-old Hartford resident who has leukemia, learned during a live stream production of WWE's The Bump, from WWE Superstar Roman Reigns via Skype, that he will be
... more
Make-A-Wish recipient Israel Rodriguez, a 12-year-old Hartford resident who has leukemia, learned during a live stream production of WWE's The Bump, from WWE Superstar Roman Reigns via Skype, that he will be attending WrestleMania. The surprise reveal was made at the digital and production studio's of the WWE in Stamford, Conn. on Feb. 19, 2020. The show is hosted by WWE personality Kayla Braxton.
lessMake-A-Wish recipient Israel Rodriguez, a 12-year-old Hartford resident who has leukemia, learned during a live stream production of WWE's The Bump, from WWE Superstar Roman Reigns via Skype, that he will be
... moreSTAMFORD — Since he was diagnosed with leukemia last July, 12-year-old Israel “Izzy” Rodriguez has not stopped battling.
The young Hartford resident’s resolve has carried him through weekly chemotherapy sessions, and it has helped to push the cancer into remission.
On Wednesday, he learned that some of his heroes were cheering him on in his fight.
During a visit to WWE’s Stamford production studios that was coordinated with Make-A-Wish Connecticut, Izzy discovered during a surprise video meeting with WWE Superstar and fellow leukemia survivor Roman Reigns that his lifelong wish of going to WrestleMania would come true in a few weeks.
“Sometimes you can feel like you’re on your own, Izzy, and I just want you to know that hopefully this is a great example that we’re with you,” Reigns told Izzy during the latest episode of the online show “The Bump,” which is shot at the local studios. “These are tough times, and sometimes you don’t always get the answers you want. But just know you’re a tough guy.”
The show then rolled a recorded clip from Izzy’s favorite Superstar, John Cena.
“It’s official: You are going to WrestleMania!” Cena said. “Hopefully, I’ll see you there.”
Yet another WWE Superstar, Sheamus, joined Izzy in the studio to congratulate him.
“It’s crazy!” replied a grinning Izzy, as he was handed a pair of oversized tickets to WrestleMania 36 at Raymond James Stadium on April 5 in Tampa, Fla. He will attend WWE’s marquee annual gathering with his mother, Johanna Bonilla, and his father, Enrique Rodriguez.
After the on-set interview wrapped up, Izzy and Bonilla were greeted by dozens of WWE employees, who gave them a rousing round of applause in an adjoining cafe.
Izzy said that when he got on the road in the morning with his mother and aunt, Maria Morrillo, he knew little about what awaited him — except that he was heading to a Make-A-Wish event in Stamford.
“We had a simple ride over here — a simple conversation of how he’s feeling, and what’s going on around the house,” Bonilla said in an interview. “Nothing about this at all. But he is very excited to be here.”
In a show of solidarity, Izzy and his mother wore the same black hoodies emblazoned with a boxing glove and the message “His fight is my fight.”
Bonilla had reached out to Make-A-Wish shortly after her son’s diagnosis.
Izzy is fighting acute lymphocytic leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. After the leukemia went into remission about two months ago, he is now undergoing chemotherapy, according to Bonilla.
In 2016, nearly 415,000 people in the U.S. were living with leukemia, according to a National Cancer Institute estimate. The five-year survival rate for the disease rose from 33 percent in 1975 to 59 percent in 2005, the NCI found.
In total, 28 children are going to this year’s WrestleMania through the partnership between WWE and Make-A-Wish. Make-A-Wish recipients have gone to every WrestleMania since its inception in 1985.
Last year, WWE awarded its service-focused Warrior Award to its director of talent relations, Sue Aitchison.
She has helped grant WWE-focused wishes — including many meetings with WWE superstars — to more than 6,000 children.
Make-A-Wish’s Connecticut Chapter has fulfilled more than 30 WWE-related wishes.
Cena ranks as the top celebrity wish granter, having granted more than 600 wishes.
“They never say no to us,” said Make-A-Wish Connecticut President and CEO Pam Keough. “They are our longest-standing corporate partner, and they have been very good to us.”
Izzy, a seventh-grader at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, said that he was inspired by Reigns.
The 34-year-old Reigns — who is also known as Joe Anoaʻi — returned to the ring in February 2019 after announcing that his cancer had gone into remission again. He had taken a leave of absence and given up the Universal Championship four months earlier, after announcing the return of his leukemia, which was first diagnosed in 2008.
An experienced boxer, Izzy said he aspires to become a WWE performer. In the meantime, he said Wednesday’s trip had fueled his motivation to overcome his illness.
“Roman made me feel like I’ll beat it,” Izzy said. “You just have to keep fighting it.”
pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; 203-964-2236; twitter: @paulschott
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